Attachment for buttonholes



Aug. 5, 1958 c. wQ JEPsoN 2,845,673

TTACHMENT FOR BUTTONHOLES Filed April 15, 1955 INVENTOR.

A'ITD R N EYB A United States Patent ATTACHMENT FOR BUTTONHOLES Charles William Jepson, Ridlonville, Maine Application April 15, 1955, Serial No. 501,509

.5 Claims. (Cl. .2A-202) This invention relates to buttonholes for garments, fabrics and the like, and more particularly to an attachment for such buttonholes.

The object .of the invention is toprovide an attachment lvfor .buttonholes whereby such buttonholes will be reinforced. and Vwhereby the attachment can be placed on new or used articles of clothing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a .buttonhole attachment which is adapted to be secured in and y.around a buttonhole whereby tearing or damage to the buttonhole from usage will bevminimized or prevented since the present invention will help to reinforce the buttonhole.

A further object of the invention is to provide a buttonhole attachment which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages Will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the attachment of the present invention in use with a buttonhole of a garment or the like.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the buttonhole attachment removed from the garment or fabric.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken through the buttonhole attachment, and showing a modification wherein a spring member is used for helping to maintain the parts in their proper position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure l but illustrating a modification wherein rivets or the like are used for securing the attachment in place instead of stitching.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a portion of a garment or fabric which is provided with one or more buttonholes 11, and the present Ainvention is directed to an attachment which will reinforce the buttonhole 11 so as to minimize or prevent tearing or damage thereto during use.

The attachment of the present invention includes a body member which is indicated generally by the numeral 12, and the body member 12 can be made of any suitable material. The body member 12 includes a pair of spaced parallel side sections 14 which are arranged on opposite sides of the fabric 10, and the side sections 14 may be interconnected together by means of an arcuate section 15, Figure 2. The body member 12 is shaped to include a first or major portion 16, and extending from the first portion 16 is a pair of enlarged tabs or flaps 17. The tabs 17 are provided with opposed or registering apertures or openings 1S, and stitching 19 extends through the apertures 18 and through the fabric 10 for securing the body member 12 in place on the fabric 10. Instead of using ICC lthe stitching 19, rivets such as'the-rivets y20 Yshown in Figures 5 land 6 can'be'used.

The body member 12 further includes curvedend portions 21 which terminate in lingers '22 that are'tapered so that theremay result a saving'of material, and the free vends of the `fingers l22fmaybespaced from geach^otherand may be somewhat pointed. "T hei'fingers 22 'are-arranged on the opposite side of the buttonholell'fromthe tabs 17.

There is further provided a support'member which is indicated generally by the numeral 23, andthe support member 23 and body member 12 can *be made of any suitable material. The support member 23 yincludes a pair of spaced apart side wal1s'24which are arranged on opposite sides Vof the fabric 10,l and theside -walls`24 Vare interconnected together by means of`an 'arcuate `or curved wall section 25 which extends through 'the buttonhole 311. The side walls 24 are eachjprovided with a plurality of spaced apertures 26 which `extend along theirk longitudinal free edges, and stitching 27 may extend through the apertures 26'and throughthe fabric lllfor securing the support member 23 in place. The support member 23 thus `serves'to clamp or maintain the fingers 22 in their proper position. Thus, it will be seen that the walls of the fabric 10 which dene the buttonhole 11 are completely enclosed or surrounded by the attachment'ofthe present invention so that tearing or *other` damage to'the buttonhole or `fabric will be prevented. -'Instea^d"ofjusing thestitching I27,'r'iv`ets 20can"be'extended throughthe `openings 26 as shown in Figure 5 for securing the support member 23 to the fabric 10. If desired a spring member 28 may be arranged in engagement with the attachment as shown iii Figure 4, and the spring member 28 helps to reinforce and maintain these parts in their proper assembled relation.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided an attachment for use with buttonholes such as the buttonhole 11. In use the body member 12 can be connected to the fabric 10 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of the stitching 19 or by means of the rivets 20. The body member 12 is arranged so that the side sections 14 are arranged on opposite sides of the fabric 10, and the fingers 22 are positioned as shown in Figure l. Then, the support member 23 is secured in place by means of the stitching 27 or rivets 20, and the support member 23 will retain the ngers 22 in place. Thus, all portions of the fabric which surround the buttonhole 11 will be covered by the attachment of the present invention so that as the button is moved through the buttonhole, the buttonhole will not tear or become accidentally enlarged. If desired the spring member 28 can be arranged in engagement with the parts as shown in Figure 4 so as to help retain the parts in their proper assembled position.

Any suitable means can be used for securing the support member and body member in place, as for example brads can be used, and the support member and body member can be made of any suitable material and in any desired size. With the present invention the buttonhole will be reinforced so that the ends Will not become torn or unduly strained. However, the attachment will yield sufficiently to permit the button to be inserted into the buttonhole. Thus, the support member and body member may be made of material which yields slightly. The

. free ends or fingers 22 can move slightly to provide the assembly with suicient flexibility to permit a button to be inserted into the buttonhole or removed therefrom.

I claim:

l. In an attachment fora buttonhole formed in a fabric or the like, a body member including a pair of spaced parallel side sections arranged on opposite sides of the fabric, an arcuate section interconnecting said side sections together, said body member including a first portion, a pair of spaced apart tabs extending outwardly from said first portion and said tabs being provided with a pluralityI of registering apertures, securing means extending through said registering apertures, curved portions extending outwardly from the ends of said rst portion, said curved end portions :terminating in inwardly extendingytapered fingers, the free ends of said ngers being pointed and arranged on the opposite side of the buttonhole fromV said ftabs, 4and a supportmember including a pair or' spaced parallel side walls arranged on opposite sides of the fabric and surrounding a portion of Said lingers and extending outwardly lof said fingers, a curved wall section interconnecting the side Walls of said support member together,

there being a plurality of opposed apertures in said side walls, and securing means extendingz through said last named apertures.

2. The structure as de'ned in claim l, and further including a spring member surrounding said buttonhole and arrangedin engagement with said body member.

3. The structure as dened in claim 1, wherein said securing means comprises stitching.

4. The structure as defmed'in claim l, wherein said securing means comprises rivets.

5. An attachment for a buttonhole formed in a fabric or the like, comprising a body member embodying a pair of spaced parallel side sections arranged on opposite sides of the fabric, an arcuate section interconnecting said side sections together, said body member including a rst portion, a pair of spaced apart enlarged tabs extending from said rst portion and said tabs being provided with a plurality of registering apertures, securing means extending through said registering apertures, curved portions extending from the ends of said rst portion, said curved 4 end portions terminating in tapered fingers, the free ends of said ngers being pointed and arranged on the opposite side of the buttonhole from said tabs, the free ends of the fingers being able to move slightly so as provide the assembly with suicient exibility to permit a button to be inserted into the buttonhole or removed therefrom, a support member including a pair of spaced parallel side walls arranged on opposite sidesof the fabric and surrounding a portion of said fingers, a curved wall section interconnecting the side walls of said support member together, there being a plurality of opposed apertures in said side walls, securing means extending through said last named apertures, said support member and body member being made of a material which yields slightly,` and a spring member surrounding said buttonhole and arranged in engagement with said body member for helping to reinforce and maintain the parts in their proper assembled positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent Germany May 23, 1911 

